Stella Lain Talks Latest Single, Musical Memories And More
Words by Glenn Sargeant
Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By WMA Agency
UK Country artist called Stella Lain, has released her latest single ‘Country Girl’ which is taken from her debut EP ‘STELLA’ released on Friday 17th October 2025. She spoke to us all about the single, her musical memories and more:
What is your earliest musical memory?
My earliest musical memory is putting on little shows for my family when I was really small. I’d sing nursery rhymes or Disney songs, make up routines, and pretend I was performing with a live band, complete with endless costume changes, of course. My parents always say I could sing before I could talk. I especially remember being pushed on the swings at the park, belting out I’m With You by Avril Lavigne at the top of my lungs, or copying Kylie Minogue’s routines from my mum’s DVDs. Those early moments gave me that first taste of performing and the joy of connecting with people through music.
I remember being about six years old, grabbing an A3 sheet of pink paper and writing my very first song in sparkly gel pen. I performed it for my nan on my miniature keyboard (which at that time I didn’t know how to play) and sang my song Spring Time. It started off being about flowers and the beginning of spring, but by the end, I was somehow singing about unicorns. But that was the moment I realized how much I loved creating music and sharing it with others. It wasn’t until I was around 10 years old that I really began to fully embrace it.
When did you begin songwriting?
I really began songwriting properly around the age of 10. Every day after school, I’d head straight to our garage and write; it became part of my routine, like clockwork. Singing and performing had always been what I wanted to do, and I felt such a deep connection with music.
I had tried writing songs even earlier, but at 10, I realized it was more than just a hobby; it was my passion, something I needed to pursue as a way of expressing myself, like writing in a diary. That’s when I picked up my brother’s old nylon-string guitar and started teaching myself to play. I’d practice until my fingers went numb, and once I had learned my first few chords, I naturally began singing over the top. The lyrics just seemed to flow out of me like a stream of self-expression. From then on, I found myself writing almost every single day, growing and improving with each song.
You have your new single ‘Country Girl’ out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?
The inspiration for Country Girl actually came from something I overheard someone say about country music. The very first line I wrote was the hook: “Maybe from a different part of the world, but I’m still a country girl.” I wrote that after hearing someone claim that country music is only “real” if it’s from the U.S. To me, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I grew up with country music! John Denver, Glen Campbell, Jonny Cash, Dolly Parton, and that’s to name a few. So country music has always been in me. I believe it doesn’t matter where you’re from or who you are; if you love country music, then you’re country. Personally, I grew up in rural Norfolk, which is about as country as it gets.
The rest of the song came from a conversation I had with someone about my music. When they found out I make country music, they said I looked “too Barbie” to be into country. That moment really fueled the heart of the song, and I embraced being a Country Barbie. Country Girl is about celebrating who you truly are, being unapologetically unique, and never letting anyone put you inside a box.
Did you solely write the track or was it a co-write?
This track is solely written, it’s all me. As well as all the tracks on my upcoming EP, out 17th October.
Was it a difficult song to write?
No, not really, it just came to me. From experiencing what it’s about, I had the hook circling round and round in my head. There is also no denying that this song is so 100% me.
Is the single accompanied by a visualiser?
At this current moment, there is only a lyric video. But I would love to do something with it in the future. We will have to wait and see.
Where did you record the single and who produced it?
So I recorded the single back in my home city of Norwich, with my amazing vocal engineer Edward Sargisson. The song was produced by the incredible Ariel Delgado with fiddle by the talented Dayna Bee.
Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?
What people don’t always see is that when I’m recording, I’m usually dancing around the studio at the same time. I have this funny habit of making silly noises whenever a microphone is put in front of me, I don’t even know why, I guess I’m just a little weird like that. Edd and I also love sneaking random sounds into tracks. For example, in Country Girl you can hear me suddenly shout “yeehaw”, it was a completely spontaneous ad-lib that had us both cracking up.
The studio is always full of laughs, whether we’re quoting random movie lines, songs or joking around with references from one of my favourite iconic childhood shows, SpongeBob SquarePants. On some songs, I’ll even pretend to play an invisible guitar while singing. Honestly, it’s always such a good time in the studio. I think that energy and fun naturally spill over into the music.
Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?
For Country Girl, I knew exactly what I wanted, and my producer, Ariel Delgado, completely understood my vision. He’s unbelievably talented. The first time I heard him bring one of my songs to life, I actually cried.
I wanted the track to be something you could dance to, with a mix of traditional country and a touch of pop, what I like to call Barbie Country. In my head, it was like something you’d hear in a honky-tonk bar… if you covered it in pink glitter. So, of course, I knew I needed a whole lot of banjo, not only because it’s one of my favorite instruments, but also because it’s actually a lyric in the song. On top of that, we added plenty of electric guitar to lead the song.
But I also knew a fiddle was essential, and that’s when I found the incredible Dayna Bee, a violinist from Nashville. I really value creativity, so I told her to just improvise whatever she felt fit the vibe, as long as it flowed with the song. She brought such magic to it.
We even added vocals that sound like they’re coming through a TV or radio, just because I thought it was cool. Me and my vocal engineer Edd had so much fun putting in ad-libs throughout the track, and I really wanted the chorus to be layered with a lot of harmonies to make it sound almost like a lot of people are singing along. It was all about having fun while staying true to that confident, celebratory message at the heart of Country Girl.
Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?
I have to say Country Girl is definitely the song that captures me at my happiest. It’s such a fun track that makes me feel confident and uplifted. I can’t help but dance every time I hear it. It’s one of those songs that just instantly makes me feel good about myself.
The angriest would have to be Boy Bye. That one’s a cautionary tale about a heartbreaker who almost got away with breaking my heart. It’s a warning to others to look beyond the charm and not fall for the same kind of cunning deception.
The most reflective track is The Problem. I wrote it while looking back on times when people had been unkind to me for no real reason. As you grow up, you realize that if someone is willing to waste their energy putting you down, the problem is them and not you. That song became a way of reclaiming that perspective and reminding myself of my own strength.
Do you have any further music releases planned for 2025/2026?
My Debut EP ‘Stella’ is out on 17th October, which includes Country Girl and my other two singles, as well as two brand new songs. I wanted this EP to be my introduction to me as an artist, exploring different sub-genres of country music, different themes, and different feelings. I’ve got lots of exciting things coming up at the end of this year and next. I’ve been working really hard with lots of incredible people to create some really, truly wonderful things, so stay tuned.
What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
When I leave the stage, I hope I’ve made people feel something. Whether that’s happiness, confidence, or comfort in knowing they’re not alone. And I hope I’ve inspired someone, especially young girls who have big dreams, just like I did, to believe that they can do anything if they stay true to themselves. I hope that they would see me like one of their friends and want to follow along with my musical journey.
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
For myself, I love my Faith Naked Neptune guitar. The sound is beautiful, acoustic or plug into an amp. It’s so warm, light, and airy. I do have another guitar, which is my Hummingbird Luna, and it’s just beautiful with its mother-of-pearl Hummingbird on the body. That guitar is special to me as I saved up to buy it when I was 15 years old and I’ve wrote most of my songs on that guitar.
How do you look after your voice?
I’m actually a classically trained singer, so looking after my voice is really important to me. I make sure to give myself frequent vocal rests whenever I can, and I always keep herbal tea with honey nearby to soothe my voice. I also use a vocal nebuliser, which mixes water with a saline solution to help hydrate and lubricate my vocal folds. And of course, I never skip vocal warm-ups. Your vocal cords are a muscle, and just like with any workout, it’s so important to stretch and prepare them before you start singing.
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
That’s such a hard question! If they ever made another Legally Blonde sequel, I would be over the moon to be involved. It’s my ultimate comfort movie, including the book by Amanda Brown. I’ve always related to Elle Woods in some ways, being a blonde, pink-loving girly girl myself with a boss side, who is sometimes underestimated. It would just be so much fun. I think I’d also have to say, anything by the author Meg Cabot, I love her work, and one of my favourite novel series growing up was The Princess Diaries.
I love those books because they are so full of heart, humor, and that feeling of finding yourself in the middle of chaos, which is something I think a lot of people can relate to. Writing a score for an adaptation would be so much fun because I’d get to capture both the light-hearted, modern fairytale side and the emotional moments. I love music that feels cinematic and almost musical in itself, so I think it would be such a perfect fit. Plus, who wouldn’t want to bring that early 2000s rom-com magic back to life through music?
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
My hometown is Norwich, it’s artsy, quaint, historical, friendly and rural.
Do you have any live dates in the UK/Europe planned for 2025/2026?
I do! I am performing at the Halloween Country Party event in Chesterfield on the 25th October for Steel City Line Dancers, supported by Country Music UK. I will be opening for Chanel Yates alongside Jake Davies. I am also going to be supporting Ryan Evans at Rodeos Birmingham on the 8th November at 7pm. Very excited! More exciting things to come for next year, including festivals and collaborations, so follow for updates.
Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
Obviously, one of the biggest influences on my music is Taylor Swift. She inspired me as a child to make music, and I was especially shaped by her Debut and Fearless albums. Some of my all-time favorites are Our Song and Picture to Burn.
I’ve also been influenced by the legends like Dolly Parton (the original Country Barbie), Carrie Underwood, and Kacey Musgraves. More recently, I’ve been really inspired by some incredible artists in the scene right now. I’ve been loving Emily Ann Roberts’ song Set It Off, and I have to shout out Maggie Murrey’s Boo Hoo, Ellie Marie’s Rockbottom, and my latest obsession, First Time Flyers’ Trouble. Honestly, I could list my favorite artists and songs all day. I’m constantly inspired by the talent around me.
What makes Stella Lain happy and what makes you unhappy?
What makes me happy is definitely anything pink and glittery, my two cats Clawdia and Eugene, performing, listening to and creating music, and spending time with my loved ones. I’m also happiest when people tell me they love my music or connect with it; that means the world to me. And of course, little things like the sound of a banjo, dancing, or diving into one of my many hobbies always brighten my day.
What makes me unhappy? Definitely mean or rude people, having a blocked nose, or burning the dinner! But I try not to let the little things get me down. I really believe it’s important to focus on the good, and if you keep that sunshine in you, it will always shine through. Sorry if that’s cheesy.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By WMA Agency
Stella Lain’s latest single ‘Country Girl’ is out now.
Her debut EP ‘STELLA’ is released on Friday 17th October 2025.
Official Website: https://www.stellalain.com/listen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stella_lain_music/?hl=en
